On the trail

NSW Labor has joined the Coalition in a tougher approach to the mining sector, with plans to ban exploration in waterways next to national parks and introduce exclusion zones in areas that are “environmentally, socially or economically significant". It would also ban the harmful BTEX chemicals in coal seam gas operations. NSW Minerals Council chief executive Nikki Williams said, “We should all be concerned about an election-driven auction over the future of the industry." Opposition Leader
Barry O
’Farrell said there was no “sizzle" in Premier
Kristina Keneally
’s policy “sausage".

Barry O’Farrell has a rare gift for working references to Labor’s “incompetence", “scandals" and “bungled" power deals into announcements, and the revelation that Premier Kristina Keneally gave a standard directive to the public service to destroy government documents was a golden opportunity. Holding forth on Shredder Gate yesterday, Mr O’Farrell said some things can’t be shredded, namely, “incompetence", “scandals" and the memory of “shutting down Parliament early to avoid scrutiny of the electricity deal". Triple score!

Apparently things are looking a bit grim for Camp Keneally. Bookmaker Sportingbet said the Coalition had “made election punting history" yesterday after a $130,000 bet placed it at $1.01 to win against Labor at $16, the shortest odds possible.